HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN July 11,
2012
Former king Gyanendra of Nepal wants to
be reinstated
Kathmandu, July 10: Nepal's deposed king Gyanendra Shah has said
for the first time that he wants to return to the throne, Xinhua reported.
In an interview, the former
monarch told News 24 television channel that he had made an agreement six years
ago with the country's political parties that he would be a constitutional
monarch. But the government abolished the monarchy in 2008.
The ex-king said he did not want
to be active in Nepal's politics, but did want a largely ceremonial role, BBC
reported.
Shah's latest comments have come
at a time when Nepal is amid political turmoil, with political parties finding
it hard to agree on new constitution for the country.
"Monarchy may comeback if
Nepalese people wish," Shah said.
"Country was suffering due
to failure of the Constituent Assembly to deliver a constitution," Shah
added.
The constituent assembly was
recently dissolved after political leaders' failure to reach such an agreement.
Fresh elections are planned for November. But Nepal is in a political vacuum at
the moment.
On Saturday, Shah turned 66 and
celebrated his birthday in a ceremony held at his residence in the capital.
Hundreds of well-wishers,
relatives and pro-monarchist political activists were present at the function.
Rebel Maoist leader Baidya wants Bhattarai’s
resignation
Kathmandu, July 10: Maoist leader Mohan Baidya has reiterated his call for immediate
resignation of Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai to resolve the political
stalemate in Nepal.
Baidya, who broke away from
the ruling United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists to form his own Communist
Party of Nepal – Maoist, is said to have asked for Bhattarai’s immediate
resignation when he met Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) here on Sunday.
The two leaders discussed on
ways to come out from the present deadlock, reports said.
“Prime Minister Baburam should tender his
resignation first to move in the direction of forging consensus. To resolve the
deadlock through revival of Constitution Assembly or to hold the CA election
once again PM Baburam’s resignation should be the beginning point”, Baidya is
quoted as saying.
The hardline faction of the Maoists
led Baidya had earlier alleged that Maoist-led government has deviated from the
party’s official line and has demonstrated “needless flexibility” with the
“expansionists” and “imperialists”.
Meanwhile, former prime
minister and United Marxist Leninist leader Madhav Kumar Nepal has also called
for Bhattarai’s resignation.
He said Bhattarai’s excessive
lust for power is pushing the country into further chaos and uncertainty.
“If we recall Baburam had
claimed that he will tender his resignation within 45 days if he failed to meet
the expectations. It has already been 9 months since he is stuck to power,”
Nepal said and added, “This is one of the best examples of a Prime Minister’s
naked lust for power.”
“The only alternative for consensus is Prime
Minister Baburam’s immediate resignation,” Nepal said.
Rail connectivity to link neighbouring countries with
Northeast
Guwahati, July 10: India's landlocked northeast may soon have rail connectivity with the
neighbouring countries of Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. This initiative is
aimed at boosting bilateral trade, development and tourism in the region.
The Northeast Frontier
Railway (NFR) has submitted a field survey report to the Railway Board which
envisages connecting the northeastern states, Bihar and West Bengal with
neighbouring countries, including Nepal reports reveal.
"We have already sent
the report to the Railway Board and waiting for them to reply back to us, he
added. There has been a long standing demand from the northeastern states for
expanding the railway links to the neighbouring countries," said a senior
NFR official.
The proposed rail lines
include Jagboni in Bihar to Biratnagar in Nepal, New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal
to Kakrabita in Nepal, Hasimara in West Bengal to Phuentsholing in Bhutan and
Pathsala in Assam to Namlang in Bhutan.
The other proposed rail links
are Rangiya in Assam to Samdrupjonkhar in Bhutan, Banarhat in West Bengal to
Samtse in Bhutan, Agartala in Tripura to Akhaura in Bangladesh and Kokrajhar in
Assam to Geleka in Bhutan, the official said.
There are also plan to
connect Myanmar through Jiribam and Moreh in Manipur. "We are going to
carry out the survey regarding the connectivity with Myanmar very soon,"
he said.
Editorial
CONDEMNABLE ACT
Cong Facing Graft Heat
The attack on RTI activist
Akhil Gogoi by Congress supporters in Assam when Gogoi was inspecting the flood
situation in that State is not only unwarranted but condemnable. Gogoi has been
actively opposing the ruling Congress party in Assam for its various misdeeds,
including corruption. As Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal put it, Gogoi “is a credible voice against corruption” in
the entire country. Only the UPA government at the Centre and State governments
in the northeast know how corrupt they are. The Centre runs puppet governments
in India’s neglected northeast the way the United States has been backing
dictatorial regimes in the Middle East. One day these regimes will fall and
then what.
The people in the Northeast
are completely fed up with corruption in the administration and insensitive
governments. There is a lack of credible leadership in this region where the
people are torn between gun-wielding insurgents and corrupt politicians. Political
parties – opposition as well as the ruling – in most of the States in the
Northeast are hand-in-glove in corruption. The media’s role in any situation is
to provide informations to the people; it cannot and must not get directly
involved in public affairs. Conscious citizens, therefore, must form a third
alternative to counter the present political scenario in the Northeast. There
can be
a ‘middle path’ if like-minded people come together and chalk out a
different strategy for the people of the Northeast. At best the Press can and
should become a catalyst towards achieving this goal, which not only will
benefit the people in the region but the nation at large.
Lhasa, Lijiang to develop
self-drive tourism along tea-horse route
The Tea-horse Ancient Road was considered a corridor of economic and
cultural exchange for southwest China. Photo shows a train of horses carrying
goods on the tea-horse road. [Photo Source: china.com.cn]
Tibet's capital of Lhasa and Yunnan Province Lijiang will develop
a new self-drive route from Lijiang to Lhasa via Shangri-la and the Tea-horse
Ancient Road, according to the Tourism Bureau of Lhasa City.
The project to open the 2,000-km Lijiang-Lhasa Route is designed to
serve those travellers who prefer outdoor sports and are experienced in
wildness survival, said Wang Ping, deputy director of the bureau.
It will
take self-drive visitors about five days to reach Tibet by the route. They can
also appreciate picturesque views and experience the profound cultural
tradition along the world-famous Tea-horse Ancient Road.Once the project
starts, supporting facilities such as service centers and gas stations will be
built and if necessary, the Lijiang-Lhasa air route will be opened in the
future, Wang added.
China, Bhutan want to establish diplomatic ties
China is willing to complete border demarcation with Bhutan at an early date
Meeting for the first time,
Prime Ministers of China and Bhutan have expressed their willingness to
establish diplomatic relations between the two countries and discussed measures
to resolve border dispute.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
and his Bhutanese counterpart Jigmi Y Thinley had a surprise meeting on the
sidelines of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development at Rio de Janeiro (last
month) and expressed desire to establish diplomatic relations between the two
neighbouring countries.
Thinley said his talks with
Wen carry great historic significance as it marks the first meeting between the
top leaders of the two governments, Chinese state-run news agency Xinhua quoted
him as saying.
Wen told Thinley that China
values the traditional friendship between the two nations and respects Bhutan's
choice for its developmental path according to its own national conditions.
China pursues a foreign policy
of good-neighbourliness and is ready to forge formal diplomatic relations with
Bhutan on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, Wen
informed the Bhutanese leader.
China is willing to complete
border demarcation with Bhutan at an early date and strengthen exchanges in
various fields so as to push bilateral ties to a higher level, he said,
appreciating "Bhutan's staunch support of China's position on issues
concerning Taiwan and Tibet".
Stressing on the historic
significance of their meeting, Thinley said that Bhutan wishes to forge formal
diplomatic ties with China as soon as possible, the report said.
Thinley told Wen that Bhutan
is willing to settle border issues with China in an cooperative manner, enhance
bilateral economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people contact and
cultural exchanges, and carry out close communication and coordination in
international and regional affairs.
The Bhutanese, he said,
highly appreciate China's endeavour to safeguard the common interests of developing
countries in international and regional affairs.
Though neighbours, the two
countries have not yet established diplomatic relations as Bhutan, a strongly
ally of India, had remained aloof since 1951 after China took firm control of
Tibet, which formed borders with Bhutan.
Relations between Beijing and
Thimpu have traditionally remained strained following border dispute.
The two countries share about
470 km long contiguous borders and have held several rounds of talks to resolve
the dispute and signed for the first time an agreement promising to 'Maintain
Peace and Tranquillity on the Bhutan-China Border Areas,' in 1998.
Any settlement of the
Bhutan-China border is significant for India as Chumbi Valley - a vital
tri-junction between Bhutan, India and China border - is 500 km from Siliguri
corridor and the "Chicken Neck" which connects India to its Northeast
states and Nepal to Bhutan.
Indian strategic analysts say
that the Chumbi Valley is of geo-strategic importance to China because of its
shared borders with Tibet and Sikkim. (Deccan
Herald)
Teesta Urja ends feud with Sikkim, gives 26% stake to State
Teesta Stage III hydel power project site in Chungthang in North Sikkim. (right)
Mumbai, July 10: Teesta Urja, which is developing the 1,200-mw
Teesta III in North Sikkim, has resolved the long-standing dispute with the
Sikkim Government by allocating 26% stake to it, paving the way for speedy
execution of the project, sources involved with the development said.
In a board meeting on Friday,
private developer Teesta Urja approved the transfer of around 30 crore shares,
representing 26% stake, for a total consideration of Rs 296 crore, sources
said. This comes at a time when the Sikkim Government has reportedly cancelled
four hydropower projects, including the 280-mw Teesta I, due to local
opposition and environmental issues, The
Economic Times reported.
Teesta III too has been marred by
delays after it was hit by an earthquake in 2011 and also due to a prolonged
dispute between Teesta Urja and the Sikkim Government over allocation of
shares.
"The shareholding issue has
been resolved. This would help us in raising additional funds needed for the
cost overruns and expedite the project so that we can commission it in
September 2013, or latest by December," a top official from Teesta Urja
told ET.
The cost of the project was
originally pegged at Rs 5,700 crore, but it has gone up due to delays. However,
company officials declined to comment on the quantum of additional cost.
122 candidates file nominations for GTA polls
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with GJM’s
Bimal Gurung and Roshan Giri (file photo)
Darjeeling, July 10: Filing of nominations for the July 29
Gorkhaland Territorial Authority (GTA) polls ended on Monday. The GJM has
fielded candidates from all the 45 seats. The CPM has put candidates from 13
seats while the Trinamool Congress has put up its candidates in 18
constituencies.
The last date of withdrawal is
July 12. Results will be declared on August 2 and the GTA formation would be
completed by August 10, PTI reported.
GJM president Bimal Gurung has
filed his papers from Tukvar, his native village in Darjeeling sub-division,
while his wife Asha submitted her nomination for Darjeeling sadar seat. Party
general secretary Roshan Giri filed his papers from Sitong Latpanchar in
Kurseong sub-division. The GTA has total 45 seats — 22 in Darjeeling
sub-division, 10 in Kurseong, 13 in Kalimpong.
A total of 122 candidates
have filed nominations for the July 29 election to the 45-member Gorkhaland
Territorial Administration (GTA), the new body for governing the Darjeeling
hills in northern West Bengal, officials said.
A total of 63 nominations
were filed on Monday, the last day of filing nominations, the authorities said.
The three picturesque
Darjeeling hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kurseyong and Kalimpong have been
on the boil for nearly three decades due to anti-government protests over the
demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland. The hills had witnessed killings,
police crackdowns and long shutdowns which severely impacted the hills'
economic mainstays - tea, timber and tourism.
On July 18 last year, a
tripartite agreement was signed between the GJM, and the state and central governments
for setting up a new autonomous,e lected GTA, a hill council armed with more
powers than its predecessor, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) formed
in the late 1980s.
GTF out of hill contest, to stick to Gorkhaland demand
GTF leaders with former Speaker PA Sangma
Kalimpong, July 10:
The Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) has decided not to contest the polls to the
Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). It has decided to pursue its statehood
demand.
The GTF said it would not contest the GTA polls because it
sees the exercise as a ploy by the state to claim that people in the hills have
given up the statehood demand.
“The GTA election is the ploy of the state government to
establish that the hills and the 18 (added) mouzas have accepted GTA as an
alternative to Gorkhaland,” said Anos Das Pradhan, the chief co-ordinator of
the GTF.
The GTF comprises of
CPRM, ABGL, Bharatiya Gorkha Parisang, Gorkhaland Rashtra Nirman Morcha and the
GNLF-C.
Pradhan said the GTF would work towards creating an opinion
against the polls. “Those who take part in the election either as Independents
or voters are all anti-Gorkhaland,” Pradhan said.
He added that parties
taking part in the polls would lose the moral authority to lead a movement in
the name of Gorkhaland in the future.
Cong councillor held for assault on Team Anna member Akhil
Akhil Gogoi has been raising
his voice against corruption: Kejriwal
Guwahati, July 10: RTI activist and Team Anna member Akhil Gogoi was attacked and
critically injured by suspected youth Congress activists in Assam's Nalbari
district on Friday.
Police on Saturday arrested
Tapan Barman, Congress councillor of the 23 Pachim-Khetri Dharmapur Anachalik
Panchayat, in connection with Friday’s attack on Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti
(KMSS) general secretary Akhil Gogoi at Purni.
Barman has been remanded to
the judicial custody by the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nalbari.
Gogoi, who had gone to Punni
village in Dharmapur area of the district to take stock of the flood situation,
was allegedly attacked with sticks and other sharp weapons, the police said.
Gogoi filed an FIR at the
Nalbari police station alleging that the attack was carried out by six youth
Congress activists at the behest of Assam Agriculture and Parliamentary Affairs
Minister Nilamani Sen Deka, who represents Dharmapur Assembly constituency.
The 12-hour Nalbari district
bandh called by the KMSS and supported by AGP and BJP and some other
organisations, was peaceful and evoked mixed response in the district. It was
total in Nalbari town and partial in other places of the district.
The Nalbari district unit of
the AASU condemned the incident.
A day after the attack, Team Anna member
Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday slammed the Central government, saying that this
was something the country cannot tolerate.
"Yesterday, Akhil Gogoi
was attacked by some people in a village when he had gone to take stock of the
flood situation in that particular place. It is being said that the people who
attacked him were youth Congress workers. He was alone and it seems some media
people protected him. With the kind of attack he faced, he would have been
killed, if media persons had not saved him," Kejriwal said.
"He (Akhil Gogoi) is a
credible voice against corruption. He has been raising his voice against corruption
for many years,” Kejriwal said.
Mukherjee has majority support in Northeast: Cong
Agartala, July 10: UPA presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee has won the support of all
key regional parties in the Northeast, Congress leader Luizinho Faleiro said
here on Saturday.
Of the eight north-eastern
States, Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur are ruled by
the Congress. The CPI-M rules Tripura, the Naga Peoples Front (NPF)-led
Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) governs Nagaland while the Sikkim
Democratic Front (SDF) is in power in Sikkim.
Faleiro, who is accompanying
Mukherjee in his election campaign, told reporters: "(Mukherjee) met most
Congress chief ministers, senior party leaders and leaders of the important
regional parties."
Pranab visited Nagaland on Saturday
and held a meeting with Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and his colleagues in
Dimapur. The working committee of the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) had
already endorsed its support for Pranab Mukherjee in its meeting in Kohima on
Friday.
Rio said that his party and
government are extending its support to the UPA government's candidate for the
post of the President. "It is in the right perspective that we support the
UPA government's nominated candidate for the post of President of India,"
he said.